The Fourth of July is right around the corner, and this means fireworks.

A dangerous situation can unfold in a matter of seconds. The fire broke on the 16th-floor balcony of a Manhattan high-rise on St Nicholas Avenue, Monday, July 4th, 2022. There was no information on the cause of the fire, thankfully, no injuries were reported, however, incidents such as this one put into perspective how dangerous it could be to leave the apartment windows open on a night like the 4th of July in NYC. The illegal use of fireworks has become a growing concern for the uptown residents of NYC, and with an increasing number of complaints about loud explosions, and debris falling from the sky or even entering apartment windows, it now looks like the issue has become widespread throughout the metropolitan area.

With that said.

From a photographer’s perspective, this kind of event can be challenging, but it also provides an opportunity to capture a powerful and meaningful image. When photographing a news event like a fire, there are a few things to keep in mind. You must prioritize your safety follow any instructions from authorities, respect the working space of the professionals who need real estate (space) to carry out their work, and be respectful of how you photograph people who are visibly distressed or in distress. On the technical end, I can’t provide much advice since in every situation all settings are going to be unique, so you will have to figure things out on your own and in real-time. Some photographers rely on their camera’s semi-automatic features and like me some stay in manual settings.

I must stress the importance of prioritizing safety and respect. With all these considerations in mind, photographers can capture stunning and powerful images while still maintaining a safe and responsible approach.